The Bedlam Stacks

In 1859, the British Empire faces a devastating malaria crisis, spurring the India Office to dispatch the injured expeditionary, Merrick Tremayne, on a perilous mission. His destination is the elusive, uncharted Peruvian town of Bedlam, nestled at the edge of a mysterious forest. Merrick's objective: to secure precious cuttings from cinchona trees, whose bark holds the only known cure for the deadly disease. However, Bedlam proves to be far more enigmatic than any map suggests. There, he encounters Raphael, an inscrutable priest whose secrets are intertwined with the very fabric of the town and its strange, anachronistic wonders. As Merrick delves deeper, he unearths ancient magic, uncovers the complex history of colonial ambition, and questions the true nature of his assignment. Pulley masterfully blends historical adventure with fantastical elements, crafting a captivating narrative where botany, mystery, and the uncanny converge to reveal a truth far more valuable and dangerous than anyone could have imagined.